Crystal Palace this afternoon revealed that manager Iain Dowie has left the club by mutual consent.

The former Northern Ireland international took over at Selhurst Park in December 2003 and steered the Eagles into the Premiership following victory over West Ham in the Championship play-off final.

Their stay in the top flight was a brief one, however, as they were relegated the following season and were this year beaten in the play-off semi-finals by Watford, and speculation has been rife of a recent thawing in his relationship with chairman Simon Jordan.

Dowie has been touted as a possible successor to Alan Curbishley and Steve McClaren at Charlton and Middlesbrough respectively, while Ipswich have also been alerted.